THE LADY OF SHALOTT

Chapter:01(l Am ANASTASIA)

"THE LADY OF SHALOTT "
(An inspiration from"Alfred Tennyson's" poem"The Lady of Shalott")
(By Laila and Gulbashra)
But I tell you, Love your enemies
and pray for those; who persecute you,
that you may be:
children of your father in heaven,
He causes his sun to rise
on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous
and the unrighteous..
(Gospel of Matthew)
.....*.....*.....*......*.....
But to you who are listening:
I say;love your enemies,
Do good to those: who hate you...,
Bless those; Who curse you,
Pray for those; who mistreat you....
(Gospel of Luke)
.....*.....*.....*.....*.....

It was a sunny day in Assos, Kafelonia located in Greece.When Anastasia along with her daddy Nikola
and sister Helena, return from the beach. Anastasia's lamb "kokie" was accompanying them. The
flowery door of their home was in front of them. They entered.
Nikola: Hello darling!
Marie: (As she was Anastasia's mother.)
Hi darling!
The lunch is ready should I serve it?
( Marie was 45 years old an extremely beautiful and attractive lady. Who wore a white ancient Greek
frock with an apron tied around her waist.)
Helena: Off course, Mommy! We are starving.
Marie: Oh my cutie!
Anastasia: Mom I'd love to lend a hand with lunch.
Marie:Thanks Love! I am serving "Lobsters" and "wine"; meanwhile you make fresh salad. You know
your dad's lunch is incomplete without Salad.
(Anastasia smiled warmly, then headed to prepare Salad.)
Helena and Nikola were pampering and playing with Kokie. The lunch was served.
Nikola: I have special news for you Honey!
Marie: Oh! What's that?
Nikola: In the coming week I have planned to go to Russia regarding my trade. It will also give me a
chance to meet your beloved parents. Do you wanna send them any present? (Nikola was a pearl
merchant, who operated on Kafelonia's beaches.)
Marie: Umm! Yes l've crochet sweaters for Mom and Dad.
(Anastasia sulked. Her father felt her offence.)
After lunch they napped. At the dusk ; Anastasia made her way to the Oak tree which is largest tree in
Assos. She sat under the shadow of that tree. Kokie was sitting in her lap.
She was singing;
" Cheers to the one that we go..
Cheers to the wish you were here but you are not....
Cause the drink back all the memories of everything we've been through..........."
(She placed a wreath made of White Jasmines on her head. Her long Golden hair , with their natural
curls, danced wildly in the gusty air, coming from the turquoise water of the Kafelonia sea.)
Her father arrived...
Nikola: I was looking for you Ana sweetie!
Anastasia:Daddy! I am gloomy.
Nikola: Oh! Why?(He asked in sweet tone)
Anastasia: I just wanna go with you.
Nikola:Ooooo; last time when I took you there , you made chaos with Alexander. This time I can't
afford your's and Alexander's mischievousness.
Anastasia:(In emotional way)Stop it daddy! I am already upset.
Granny, pa and Alex float into my view again and again .Ummm I long to be with them again.Will you
please took me there?
Nikola: Ok! let me ask your mother.
Anastasia:(Joyfully) Thank you dad! Mom won't stop me.
Nikola:(smiled) Let's hear her thoughts .
(Nikola said in his heart: May the fate never stops your singing,my precious and innocent daughter.)
Evening began with Marie bell's soothing chime. With gentle steps she traversed the path to her
heaven.
At the dining table (Wooden table with 4 wooden stools) Marie served Jengue.(As they were living on
an island, so most of the food they eat were seafoods)
Helena: Yumm! I love Jengue. It's so delicious Mommy!
Marie: Bon your appetite my Love!
Anastasia:Umm I wanna say something. Do you remember tomorrow is Defne's mother's
3rd death Anniversary.( She gave a painful reminder of her friend's mother's death.)
Nikola: Oh! Is it her 3rd death Anniversary?
But I thought it had been only two years since she passed .
Anastasia: No dad.. it had been three years. She was died in 1471.
Nikola: Truly the time flies!
Marie: In the blink of an eye, three years vanished, leaving only memories.
Nikola: Ana! It would be lovely if you could visit her.
Anastasia: I intend to visit her.
.... The next day....
The Marie bell's gentle ring opened Anastasia's eyes. She stepped into balcony of their house. From
there she could see the whole island of Kafelonia . Kafelonia looked breathtakingly , with the red sea
adding even more charm to the scene.( At those days the red sea was under the control of Ottoman.)
Anastasia was lost in the natural beauty of island , when a gentle voice of her mother touched her
ears.
Marie: Anaa! You are getting late for your friend's house. We're also heading to the church soon .
Anastasia: Are you heading to church together, Mommy . I mean all the women from community?
Marie: Yes dear! We're going for planting in the church, so we have to go together.
Anastasia: Hmm...
After sometime went to her friend's house and Marie headed for the church. Helena and Nikola made
their way to the beach.
In church all the women of Assos were planting and engaging in cheerful chatter, they were radiating
joy in scene of warmth and camaraderie .
At dusk they all returned home . Nikola had a basket full of " Selmons".
(Nikola handing the basket to Marie.)
Nikola: Honey! Fry them please.
(Marie picked up the basket from Nikola. )
Marie:Wow, these look great! Ana! Will you please help me?
Anastasia: Ahhh! When will we get rid of the sea foods.
Nikola: Don't be ungrateful dear! In my absence you will miss these sea foods.
Helena: Where will you go daddy?(She asked innocently.)
Nikola: To God my love!( He smiled.)
Kokie was also making his share in the conversation.
Anastasia: Stop it daddy! We won't let you go anywhere.
Nikola: I won't my Heart!
Marie was bringing the delicious Selmon , and it's aroma reaching the dining table.
Marie: Dadaaa...The yummy Selmon is ready.(She put the selmon's pot on the table.)
Nikola: Let's start the dinner.
..... During Dinner.....
Nikola:How was Defne? Ana!
Anastasia:Ammmm! She is recovering,
I think she got a strong power of resilience from the fate.
Marie: That's good for her. Ah poor Defne!
The remaining days in the week we're passed very quickly in the preparations of Anastasia. She was
preparing herself for Russia happily.Ah! The poor girl was unaware of the upcoming pendamonium in
her life.
The day of their departure from the house had finally arrived.Now it was seeing off time. Marie was
upset and was reminding Anastasia to take care of herself and her Dad. Helena was also looking
sadly to her Dad.Helena was so attached to her Dad. Nikola hugged Marie and Helena.
Helena: Daddy please come back soon. I'll be counting the days until we're together again. I'll be waiting
with open arms Dadaa.!
Nikola: (Lovingly put his hand on her head and said:) Ok my sweet baby!
They say Goodbye to Marie and Helena.
The ship was waiting for them at the beach of Red Sea. They rushed to get there.
Their journey started. The journey which proved terrible for the cute and innocent family of Kafelonia.
Anastasia was unaware that the journey to Moscow (Russia) will make her a Shalott ever after.
A regular size brown bag was with Nikola in which they put the pearls. Anastasia took the bag from her
Dad, and placed the pearls on her lap, she started playing with them.(As Anastasia was innocent and
childish.)
Suddenly a huge boat was coming in the sea in the same direction. Anastasia didn't pay any attention to
the upcoming boat, but Nikola looks a bit terrible, as the blue "Hindustani" flag take it's role in the story.
Time was running and two days were passed . The boat with blue flag was still after them.
The Third Day of The Journey!
Now they were going through Arabian sea. Suddenly Anastasia give attention to the boat following them
from two days . She seems nervous.
Anastasia: Daddy! Do you notice that this massive boat is following us? (She asked tremulously.)
Nikola:(Hesitantly replied,) It's your delusion Sweet heart! What "Hindustanis" have to do with us? Even if it
was so, your daddy is here to shield you.
Anastasia:Hmm! May be.
There was something that attract Anastasia, the same scene was with Nikola. Swiftly, the boats aligned
parallel to each other. A brown Asian man was coming out of the control room and was clapping his
hands. A boy who seemed to be 25 years old was with him. They seems Father and son.
The boy looked his father and sighed;
Baba! Stop it, it had been 20 years to their marriage, forget about him. Now he has a family.
Shut up! Ibrahim, you stay in your limits. I am your father, you aren't mine.
At the same time, a man who's age was same as that of Ibrahim's father came and said: We don't have
time Ayyub, stop your son.
Ayyub: Ok stop Nikola's boat.
( They were already stopped.)
There were 15 men in Ayyub's boat all of them had weapon. They jumped one by one into Nikola's boat.
Anastasia and Nikola saw them coming towards them. She got frightened. She quickly got up ,and the
pearls in her lap scattered all-around.
Nikola: Ana! Will you please go to the control room. I'll Handel them.
Anastasia: No daddy! I can't leave you alone ,I'll deal them.(She lost her spark.)
Nikola: Ah my silly! They will also harm you.
Ayyub and his men came closer to them.
Ibrahim was also with them .
Anastasia was crying continuously. Her Hazel eyes were full of tears. Ibrahim looked up ,his gaze met
Anastasia's, and he was lost in the depths of her beautiful eyes. He forgot how to breath. The waves in
Arabian sea stopped, the sea became calm. Ibrahim felt that if he took his eyes off, he wouldn't be able to
survive. Anastasia wore a white traditional frock of Greece, it's simplicity contrasted by the vibrant wreath
of flowers on her head, which was slipping onto the wooden floor of the boat.
Ayyub came face- to- face with Nikola, and
stood firmly in front of him.
Ayyub: It's over Nikola! I've spent 27 years carrying the weight of revenge in my heart.